Cellular carton and structure therefor



CELLULAR CARTON AND STRUCTURE THEREFOR #LIL a 2 ,r4/ I (iA/@WN ,/221

(REAR) f 36 April 4, 1939.

w. B. .JONES- CELLULAR CARTON AND STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 4, 1939. w. B. JoNEs CELLULAR CARTON AND STRUCTURE THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 28, 1936 April 4, 1939. w. B. JONES CELLULAR CARTON AND STRUCTURE THEREFOR ,Filed Sept. 28, 195e 4 sheets-sheet 4 /27 I //7 rf T y @We/@for 'wm/WW.

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFicE CELLULAR CARTON AND STRUCTURE THEREFORV Application September 28, 1936, Serial No. 102,949

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to cell-forming structures or cartons, such for example as are useful for eggs or small garden plants, Christmastree ornaments, bottles and the like.

Articles of the type referred to having crossing or intersecting cell-defining Walls or partitions are commonly made of separate pieces for the partitions. Sometimes, as in egg cartons such cells are defined by stock made of a single sheet which is cut and folded to provide a series of parallel Walls, and an intersecting wall which is a reversely bent double thickness of such sheet;

The present invention provides an improved structure for defining cells by crossing walls, characterized by use of two superposed sheets, one out to provide one or more iaps foldable to one or more cell-walls, and the other cut to provide one or more flaps foldable to provide one or more Walls which cross or intersect one or more of the first mentioned walls.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a at-foldable structure which may be opened, with parts therein foldable to provide crossing or intersecting cell walls.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical egg carton embodying the principal features of the invention in a practical structure in such a way as to avoid the obstructing e'ect of certain issued patents. structures and cooperating parts are adopted and combined in a useful way even though other constructions might be more advantageous or available except for said certain patents.

A particular object of the invention is the pro- 1 duction of an egg carton of the 2x6 cell-type which is divisible" into two sections of 2x3 vcelltype, without infringing certain patents, and to this end there are used certain features which cooperate to provide a practical and non-infringing structure.

Various other and ancillary objects and advantages of the invention and of certain features or constructions employed will be readily understood from the following description and explanation of the cartons, llers, structures, and features shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a two-piece blank with the I details of the innerstructure omitted, said blank being capable of folding by rolling action to form a at-foldable egg carton.

Fig. 2 represents the portion of the blank of Fig. 1 which is cutand scored to provide the inner structure of the egg carton with intersecting partitions forming egg cells.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the open set-up carton.'

To this end certain being a plan view of the carton in position as shown in Fig. 4. y

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the carton taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 showing the relation of the parts in set-up position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the carton taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing eggs in place to indicate the cushioning action of the egg rack.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of egg rack and cushion.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the modied form of Fig. 6 as it functions in set-up relation.

Fig. 8 is a modified form of the invention in cell forming structures wherein more than one crossing and intersecting partition is 'used with a plurality of' cross-partitions.

. Fig. 9 is a view of the structure shown in Fig. 8 as it may be set into a carton or a box .to form cells taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a single sheet blank which may be cut and folded to form the structure of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 shows a modified blank construction for hinged-together' flaps.

Fig. 12 shows a cross-section of the structure folded from the blank of Fig. 11.

'Ihe numerous advantages of the present invention are Well exemplified when the invention is embodied in an egg carton, and therefore the vinvention is more specifically described by reference to such embodiment. Other modifications are referred to, and also there are given ancillary structures which pertain to the egg carton embodiment. Egg cartons commercially used today partake of various structures which form cellular boxes of the 2x6 size. Some are made divisible into two 2x3 sizes. The present invention is therefore set forth specifically in sucha divisible egg carton.

The invention utilizes an old type of structure to provide a series of parallel transverse vertical partitions. These are made by cutting a series of foldable flaps in a panel, with connecting andv carrying tabs. This type of structure is represented in U. S. Carter Patent No. 927,488. Where the depth of the partition is close to the width n of the formed cells, the flaps are contiguous, as

in Carter, and the partitions are of one thickness. Another type of flap is shown in Scotcher U. S. Patent No. 1,614,972, wherein the -partition isl made of two flaps hinged together, thus to provide a double-thickness cross-partition. This structure however sacrifices some of the depth in the partition. -The present invention mayA utilize these types of structures for the series of crosspartitions. 55

In the Scotcher type of egg carton the 2x6 carton is divisible lengthwise into two 1x6 sections. Hence the cross partitions are not intersected by a longitudinal dividing partition. In the Carter patent the 2x6 carton is not divisible, but the cross partitions are intersected by a removable Patent No; 802,884, a 2x6 divisible carton providing two 2x3 sections is obtained. Such a structure is illustrated in Sugarman U. S. Patent No. Re. 19,030, in which the separate longitudinal partition is provided in two units, one for each section. Such a structure on breaking provides two sections substantially identical with a small Carter carton, each having a cross partition at the end to hold the eggs in place.

In many egg cartons in use today and disclosed in issued patents there is one more crosspartition than there are egg cells between them in order to provide a cross-wall at each end of the carton. Where the carton is made divisible into two complete sections, there must be two more cross-partitions than there are egg cells between them, in order that the severed" end of' The rst case is exeach section has a wall. emplied by the said Carter U. S. Patent No. 927,488 in which the at blank has one edge formed with aprojecting area of material to provide an end cross-wall. The second case is exemplied by the divisible carton of Sugarman 'D'.v S. Patent Re. 19,030, in which the at blank has two opposite edges provided each with a projecting area of material to provide the end flaps of the undivided carton. These projecting flaps are troublesome in manufacture of cartons, since perfectly rectangular blanks are not permitted. It is a custom to stamp the blanks in multiple formation from large sheets and therefore much One disadvantage of these transversely divisible cartons is the provision of the separable longil tudinal partition, either one long one, or two short ones.` In the present invention a partition is provided which is formed from la .panel in much the same way as the cross-partitions are' formed from a panel. It may be ofV single or rests ony the oor of the. carton. An improve double'thickness, and this character, its size and other features may belimited or dictated by the area of the panel which is available, and by. the position and relation Aof the panel in or to the remainder of .the carton structure.

Another important 'variation in cartons is the depth of the cell. This variation inuences the structure Vof the present invention. The Carter box-for example has a deep cell wherein 4the egg mentover this provides a false bottom or rack on which the 'egg sets and through which the end projects without touching the true bottom. Cushion means between the true and false bottoms are provided. Such structures are shown in the Rutledge U; S. Patent No. 1,906,337 and the Bueschel U. S. Patent No. 1,940,292. 'I'he present invention may be used in -cartons with or without such cushioned bottoms.

Still another important feature in prior art cartons is the integral relation of the parts of the blank whereby practically all of the internal parts and all of the external parts are originally a single sheet or blank, folded ultimately into a flat form, and openable into a structure, into which a separate longitudinal dividing partition is inserted to complete the structure. The present invention is .useful in such forms to eliminate the necessity for a separable partition.

The prior art Ashows many features of structure u vide a practical and advantageous structure capable of free and economic production, capable of being nat-folded, and capable of being set up with facility, as one piece, to provide a 2x6 egg carton which is simply divisible, if desired, into two complete 2x3 sections.

The egg carton hereinafter particularly described is one solution, by means of the present invention, to the many problems presented 'to the art by the commercial requirements and by the patent situation.

Fig. 1 represents a blank which is foldable into a complete carton. It'may be made in one piece, but it is preferably made in two pieces united to each other at some suitable stage in the manufacture. 'I he division is preferably made to provide a printed blank Ill` which provides the outer walls of the finished carton, and a cut-fandscored blank Il (details in Fig. 2) which provides the internal structure of the-carton. Thus the printpd'blank i0 may be made of stock adapted for printing, and the cut-and-scored blank may be made of diierent stock suitable for such op,

erations. Other and ancillary economic and manufacturing advantages dictate the preference for a two-piece blank.

The carton made from the blank of Fig. 1 is illustrated in end view in Fig. 4 to show the posivtions taken by the panels of the at blank. The

various areas utilized are designated by names and even numbers, and the intervening scored lines for folding are ldesignated by odd numbers. By reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the following parts will be found: locking flaps l2, cover le, rear side wall it, true bottom i9, front side wall 2t, glue strip 2d secured to front side wall 20,

topmost inner panel .26, rear glue-strip 28 secured .to rear side wall it, false-bottomor egg-rack 30,

front glue strip 32 secured to'the glue stripZ which is itself secured to front side wall. 2t, inter- The above described arrangement is s uch as tocause the box to vbe formed hito a foldable The scored lines for folding are designated by odd numerals from 13. to

-35 inclusive. v

parallelogram structure, by a rolling action from the end having glue strip '35, the parts being effectively united by glue or other securing means as the folding and rolling action takesl place in manufacture. It is to be recognized that the same structure may be arrived at by different relations of the panels and by different folding, or by building up from several separate pieces.

The false-bottom or egg rack 30 is spaced from the true bottom I8, and is cut-to provide holes and cushions for the end of the egg. 'I'he edges of the rack or false bottom 30 provide a horizontal bar to hold the eggs. The intermediate panel 34 is spaced away from the false bottom and from the top of the carton, and the flaps which form the partitions are so made that there are left in the panel certain strip-areas the edges of which provide horizontal cross-bars at the ends of the whole carton and of the two sections into which it is divisible. 'I'hese bars are at a level suitable to support the body of the egg laterally, and to'bar its removal endwise of the carton, in the event that the particular construction adopted does not provide a cross-wall or partition for the same purpose, as is the case at the severance line in the carton illustrated. The top-most inner panel isl preferably carried to the top of the carton so that the longitudinal partition formed therefrom supports the cover at its center to protect the tops of the eggs, and also to provide a strip of material above the level of the cross-partitions to give rigidity to the longitudinal partition. These relations may be varied, but the reasons for the preferred construction will become apparent as the description proceeds.

An important feature of the invention is the use of the two superposed panels 34 and 26 to provide intersecting or crossing partitions dening cells. IThe description is generally limited to one-half of 'the structure shown, it being understood that the division or severance line divides the structure into parts as would a mirror located at the severance line. The division line is a weakening of the carton blank to facilitate division. It is preferably fully cut through the stock at the regions shown in full lines 4|] in Figs. l and 2, and partly cut through by perforations shown by the dashed-lines 4|.

The three panels 30, 34 and 26 will be described in such order, which is upwardly in the completed carton. 4

The egg mela-The egg rack or false bottom 30 is cut to provide holes to receive ends of eggs `placed in the cells. The cutting is such as to avoid removal of stock, and to leave stock from the hole as a. cushioning means. The preferred cushioning effect is to provide angular means spanning the space between the egg rack and the true bottom, on which means the egg rests or is cushioned. Two forms are shown in' Fig. 2, oneform being specially designed to lift a portion of the area of the rack or false bottom upwardly as an additional lateral obstruction. for the egg. This is particularly desirable at the severance line of the illustrated carton, at which line there are no cross walls or partitions, but only a grating formed by the edges of panels 30 and 34.

In the Bueschel U. S'. Patent No. 1,940,292 there is shown an egg-hole cushioning form which is here modified to provide the upstanding obstruction.. In Fig. 2 two arcuate cut lines 45 and 46 are separated by a space 41, which together form a semi-circle as a part of the egghole. The cut lines are extended by the parallel cut lines 48 and 49. A connecting cut line 50 provides a two-ngered tab 5I, foldable on dotted line 41. The two fingers of this tab encompass a one-fingered tab 52 which folds on dotted lines 53. A cut line 54 extending away from the egg hole breaks the extent of dotted lines 53 into two portions. When the cut line 54 is senil-circular it forms an upstanding halfmoon lug 55 alongside an egg in the egg-hole, as shown in Fig. 5. In this igure the ngers of the tabs rest onI the floor or true bottom I8 and cushion the egg. In Fig. 2 the little lug56 is' merely to contact the inner Wall of the box and aid in giving support in the righted open position.

-The two-fingered tab 5i provides a slight receptacle between its fingers to center the egg. which otherwise might, upon some force to displace it, move in the 'trough-luke region formed by the two tabs. To overcome the existence of such a trough-like passage-way for the egg end, there is used a different form of cushion as shown in other egg holes. For convenience thisl is called the pin-wheel type, and it likewise has a cushioning or mattress effect. It consists merely of more than two tabs cut to deiine in part the circumference of the egg-hole, and in the immediate form, hinged at the periphery, and preferably outside of the circumference line of a circular opening. Each tab is greater in length from its hinge to its remotest tip than the radius of the hole. Three tabs'provide a greater tab-length than four, and hence three are shown as preferred. Each tabk 60 has an end 6| which is preferably semi-circular with a diameter extending from the center 62 of the egghole to the periphery. The semi-circular cut is extended at 63 to form the circumference of the egg-hole, and terminates short of the next tab to leave, folding line 64. The cut line 63 preferably extends to a point outside of the general circle. Such a tab folds at the weakest point, if not score'd, and the weakest point may be the narrowest width or near it, according to the gr'am of the stock. It is preferred to have the folding line outside the circle.

The cross-partition panel.-The panel 34 in principle provides ilaps to be folded down according to prior art cartons, but there are some modications inthe nature of improvements. The flaps are so cut as to leave in the plane of the panel strips or ties 65 at the ends of the 2x6 carton, and strips or ties 66v on each side of the severance line. These form cross bars as egg obstructions, effective on the egg at a large diameter of the egg, and hence eiectively remote from the egg end. Adjacent the bar 65 and attached to it to fold on line 61, is the carton end-flap or cross-wall or partition (68. Triangular tabs 59 and 1li are left at the rear and front respectively as reinforcements for the strip. The edge of flap 68 is dened by cut line 12 which also defines the edge of the next flap 13. This folds on line 14 on which the next flap in order 15 also folds forming two -hingedtogether flaps. Part of ap 13 is cut to provide the carrying triangle 16 on one side of line 14 and part of flap 15 similarly provides carrying triangle 11 on the other side of the hinge-line 14. Flap 15 has its edge formed by cut 18 on the other side of which ilaps 19 and 80 are formed in the same way as the hinged-together flaps 13-15. In the present embcdiment no flap is shown at the severance line, but one may readily be employed to duplicate flap 58, when this is desired. In theY absence of such partition or wall at4 the severed end of a section, the cross-bar 56 and the egg-hole lug 55 serve as egg-retaining means above the level of the egg rack. By omitting the flaps at the division line, the only removal of stock from panel 34 is at the areas 8| and 82 which otherwise lwould provide the material for the flaps omitted. The folding lines 61 and 14 are partially cut through yat 84 to remove stillness or resistance in setting up operations.

The longitudinal partition panel.-The topmost panel 26 is cut to provide ties or strips 86 at the ends of the carton and similar ties 81 for each section at the severance line. In Fig. 2, it is to be noted that panel 26 is viewed from its underside, as indicated by the legends Rear on glue strip 28 and Front (which is an inverted legend) on glue strip 24. Upon folding the blank these legends will read in normal position. The ties 86 and 81 are provided at the front of the carton with reinforcing triangular tabs 88 which cooperate with slots 89 in the two portions of locking aps I2 (Fig. 1). Thus each section has its cover locked at each end of each section.

Each section has two hinged-together aps 90 and 9| carried by ties 86 and 81 and foldable on scored line 92. Triangular tabs 93 and 94 on opposite sides of the folding line are provided by material taken from the respective flaps 90 and 9 I. The width of the carton shown permits each flap 90 and 9| to be of suicient length to touch or nearly touch the false bottom or egg rack 30, with a little material to spare. Hence the spare material in area 95 is removed along with connected triangular pieces which provide bevelled corners 96 and slots 91, which together contact and receive the cross-flaps in the panel 34 as they are or become cross-partitions. On the rear side an additional area is included to form linger-hole 98, the use of which will be described later in reference to setting-up operations. The slots 91 terminate so that their ends rest upon the tops of the cross-walls and support the longitudinal partition in level relation with the top of the carton.

Folding and setting up.-In making a carton from the parts described, a blank as in Fig. 1, cut as in Fig. 2, and scored on the folding lines, is bent rst on line 33, downward in Fig. 1, and then folded in the same direction on line 29. This brings glue strip 4| onto glue strip 28. These strips are secured, preferably by glue in this position. 'I'hen the line 25 is folded upon in the same direction, bringing glue strip 24 onto glue strip 32 (see Fig. 4). 'I'hese are secured by glue. Then the blank is folded again on line |1, bringing glue strip 28 onto rear side wall I6, to which it is glued. The carton is then flat-folded with 6 and less thicknesses of stock.

'I'he carton is then opened by use of the flexibility of the parallelogram cross-section in its various parts. When in squared position it presents a tube form of rectangular cross-section with'parallel crossing panels 30 and 34 on the interior. The appearance of the top is then the same as the panel 26 appears in Fig. 2. The inner structure is quite invisible. It may be set up in numerous Ways. A forenger may be set into finger hole 98 at the rear, and a thumb into a recess on the opposite side. 'I'he panel being flat has a tendency -to buckle or bend inwardly, but by grasping the ap edges as indicated this -is prevented, while proper manipulation is used to bend the two flaps 90 and 9| downward to form a double thickness wall or partition which crosses the positions of the underlying cross-partitions which may still be in panel form or in wholly or partly folded-down position. The ties 86 and 81 in the top most panel may flex upwardly and raise the folded edge 92 above the level of the carton proper, causing downward pressure of the bevelled sections of the longitudinal doublewalled partition to rest upon the swingable areas of the flaps inlthe intermediate panel 34. This bends them down toward the vertical position. From this partial setting of the cross-partitions two easy procedures are possible. Additional pressure downward on the double-walled longitudinal partition will cam the cross-partitions into their vertical positions. The other way is to drop in the eggs and let the eggs cam the crosspartitions into place. After the eggs are inserted the cover is shut down and this presses the longitudinal partition down from crossing to intersecting relation, wherein the slots 91 receive and hold the double-Walled crosspartitions. In locking, the cover is flexed and its edge slides on ties 86 and 81 while the locking flaps I2 in bent-down posi- Ition are allowed to slide between the ties 86 and 81 of the topmost panel. Thus the slots 89 in the locking strips ride over the edges of triangles 88. A particular advantage of the double crosswalls and double longitudinal partition is the lateral pressure exerted on the eggs when the double walls may be somewhat spread apart.

A quick method of setting up is to insert the fingers down along the inside of one side wall, flexing the top'ap 90 or 9| downward, which brings upwardly the other topap. The fingers partially fold down the cross-partitions. Then the longitudinal partition is formed and pushed down, completing the box. A simple machine has been devised to set up the cell-structure in one operation.

Filler structures.-The invention is not limited to the uses exemplified above in an egg carton, but may be used in other ways. Particularly, the panel which forms the longitudinal partition in the egg carton may be wider and be cut to form a plurality of spaced partitions, such for example as will form a filler for a 3x4 sized egg box. The chosen dimensions'may compel use of a single thickness for such partition, or partitions which are partly of double thickness, as shown in Figs. 8 to 10.

A suitable cell-forming filler for a box is shown in blank form in Fig. 10.' It has panel |0| providing one series of attached foldable ilaps, and panel |02 providing a set of attached flaps foldable to cross the flrst series. The blank has a connecting strip |03 .to space the panels apart, and two other spacing strips |04 and |05 which are secured together, forming a parallelogram structure which is flat-foldable before the panel aps are folded away from their panels.

Panel |I is cut to leave end ties or strips |06 and |01, and to provide flaps |08, |09 and ||0. A blank space' I|| is formed where only three flaps are produced, but this space may be used if an additional flap is desired. The flaps are at-v tached by the conventional triangular tabs 2 and fold on dotted lines ||3. Each flap is slotted at I I4 where it is to be crossed by flaps from f the other panel, to provide an intersecting relation.

Panel |02' is cut to leave end ties or strips ||6 and |I1, and to provide two wide flaps |I8 and ||9, and two narrow flaps |20 and I2|. Flaps |I8 and |20 are hinged together on line |22, and flaps ||9 and I2| are hinged together on line |23. When folded on these lines they form partitions which are in part of double thickness. 'Ihe wide flaps H8 and ||9 are slotted at |24 to interlock with slots 4 in the other set of flaps or walls. The ends of the sections between slots |24 are bevelled slightly at |25, especially to form the remote tips |26 to one side of the folding lines ||3 of the crossed flaps, thus forming a sort' of cam to bend flaps |08, |09 and |I0 down, as flaps ||8 and ||9 are turned down.

The narrow flaps |20 and |2| are not slotted, but are provided with a T-shaped cut |21. This provides tabs which can ex to admit the edges of aps |08 and ||0. The tabs |28 formed by cut |21`pinch the cross-partitions until the slots I4 are reached, and thereafter they lock the partition in place. The supporting triangles for the aps are designated |29.

The structure above described can be made with any number of partitions in either panel, and it may be independent of box walls as shown, to be inserted in a box represented by dotted lines |30 in Fig. 9, or it may be included with carton walls as described with reference to the 2x6 egg carton.

The panels from which the crossing walls are cut, are preferably spaced apart, where all flapsV fold in the'same direction, but it is to be understood that the spacing may be varied or omitted, and that the flaps may fold in any direction to form crossing partitions rather than to form intersecting partitions.

Modified egg-rack cushion-In Figs. 6 and 'l the egg cushion structure is shown combined with a flap structure, so that when eggs are inserted into egg holes, a flap is raised above the egg-rack level as an added lateral obstruction. The modication may be used at theend of a carton or section, and is shown at the end of a section in the egg carton of Figs. 1 to 5 and at the severance lines where there is no cross-wall from the intermediate panel. In Fig. 6 parts corresponding to Fig. 2 are similarly designated, the line at the right in the drawings representing the severed end of a section.

The two end egg-holes are formed by arcuate cuts |3| and |32 separated by attaching and folding space |33. These together dene a semi-circle for the egg-hole. The cuts I3| and |32 are extended by parallel cut lines |34 and |35, which areicross-connected by the jagged cut line |36 to provide a tWo-ngered tab |31 and an intertting one-fingered tab |38. 'I'he whole egg-rack panel is scored across at the lineal positions |39 at the ends of the parallel cuts |34 and |35. The folding lines 29 and 3| of the egg-rack are cut from the section or carton end, illustrated as the severance line 40, inwardly to the scored folding line |39. Thus the two one-fingered tabs |38 are integral in the plane of an end ap |40, thus formed.l As the eggs E move the one-fingered tabs |38 down, the panel material pivots on line |39 and raises iap |40 to the position best shown in Fig. 7. The integral tabs or flaps thus bent form a baffle for the egg in the egg-hole.

Modified hinged-together flaps- 1n commercial egg cartons space is at a premium, commercially compelling the doublewalled partitions to be close together as shown. However, the construction is subject to modication when desirable, to give an improved appearance or added strength against exing. The double-thickness walls shown will flex, but these may be rigidified by a channel-form of construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Anyljpanel area |5| in which aps |52 and |53 are out to form a double partition, may

`folding. Thestrip |56 is suilciently narrow to bring the flaps close together as a double wall,

and hence this structure is contemplated where hinged-together ilaps are referred to.

The invention is. not to beA considered as limited to the structures shown and described, and various changes and combinations are contemplated as falling within the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A cellular carton for eggs and the like comprising a bottom wall, and two opposite side walls, an internal panel secured to the sidewalls parallel to and above the bottom, said panel being cut to provide attached folded-down vertical cross-partitions at right angles to the side walls, and a second horizontal panel secured to the side walls above said internal panel, the second panel being cut to provide an attached folded-down vertical partition parallel to said side walls, said partition being slotted to receive edges of cross-partitions in an intersecting relation forming cells.

2. A cellular carton for eggs and the like comprising a bottom4 Wall, and two opposite side walls, an internal panel secured to the side walls parallel to and above the bottom, said panel being cut to provide attached folded-down vertical cross-partitions at right angles to the side walls, and a second horizontal panel secured to the side walls above said internal panel, the second panel being cut to provide attached foldeddown partitions parallel to the side walls and crossing one or more of the cross-partitions forming cells.

3. A cell-forming structure comprising two superposed spanning panels each cut to provide one or more attached flaps cut from an area between the ends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each flap being foldable into position angular to the panel providingv the flap, a folded flap from one panel crossing a folded flap from the other panel,` thus defining cells.

4. A cell-forming structure comprising two superposed-,spanning panels, means for securing them together in spaced relation, each panel being cut to 4provide one ormore attached flaps cut from an area between the ends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each ap being foldable into position angular to the panel providing the ap, a folded flap from one panel crossing a folded ap from the other panel, thus defining cells.

l5. A cell-forming structure comprising two between the ends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each flap being foldable into position substantially perpendicular to the panel providing the flap, a folded flap from one panel perpendicularly crossing a folded ap from the other panel, one or more of the crossing flaps being slotted and positioned to provide an intersecting 'relation for defining the corners of cells. f

6. A cell-forming structure comprising two superposed spanning panels, means to secure the panels in spaced relation, the rst panel being cut to provide one or more attached flaps cut from an area between the ends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each nap being foldable away from the second panel into position substantially perpendicular to the ilrst panel, the second panel being cut to provide one or more flaps foldable toward the rst panel into positions intersecting one or more folded aps from the rst panel, a ap of the second panel being slotted to encompass the sides of each intersected flap of the first panel.

7. A cell-forming structure comprising two superposed spanning panels, means to spac the panels apart, the rst panel being cut to provide two attached and hinged-together naps cut from an area between the ends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each ap being foldable away from the first panel to form a double wall angular to the irst panel, and the second panel being cut to provide an attached flap cut from an area between the ends of the panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection andfoldable away from the second panel, said last mentioned ap when folded crossing the direction of the double wall.

8. A cell-,forming structure comprising two superposed spanning panels, means to space the Y panels apart, the irst panel being cut to provide two attached and hinged-together aps cutfrom an area between tli'egends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each iiap being foldable away from the rst panel to form a double'wall angular to the first panel, and the second panel being cut to provide an attached flap cut from an area; between the ends of the panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection and foldable away from the second panel into a position intersecting the double wall and being recessed from an edge when folded to encompass the double wall in intersecting relation.

9. A cell-forming structure comprising two superposed spanning panels, means to space the panels apart, the irst panel being cut to provide one or more attached naps cut from an area between the ends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each ilap being foldable away from the first panel, the second panel being cut to provide attached and hinged-together aps cut from an area between the ends of the panel and carried by the panel Aby a hinging connection and foldable to provide a double wall extending toward a folded ap of the iirst panel in intersecting relation therewith.

10. A cell-forming structure comprising two superposed spanning panels, the ilrst panel being cut to provide a set of two hinged-together flaps cut from an area between ,the ends f the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each ap being foldable away from the panel area to form a double-wall attached' to the rst panel, the second panel being cut to provide a set of two-hinged-'together flaps cut from an area between the ends of the panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection and foldable away fromthe panel to form a double-wall attached to lthe second panel, the two sets of aps being located in their originating panels so that'in folded positions as walls the planes of the naps crossing so as to dene at least a portion of a cell structure.

11. A nat-foldable cell-forming structure comprising two spanning panels, linking means connecting the panels together in flexible parallelogram formation for folding to flat-wise position, the rst panel being cut to provide one or more attached flaps cut from an area between the ends of the spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each flap being foldable out of the panel to form one or more attached walls, and the second panel being cut to provide one or more attached flaps foldable out of the panel to form one or more attached walls of which at least one wall crosses one or more walls attached to the lrst panel.

12. A nat-foldable cell-forming structure comprising two spanning panels, linking means connecting the panels together in ilexible parallelogram formation for folding to flat-wise position, the first panel being cut to provide one or more attached iaps cut from an' area between the ends ofthe spanning panel and carried by the panel by a hinging connection, each ap being foldable out of thepanel to form one or more Vwhich provides a bottom support for eggs, an-

other of which provides cell-partition means in one direction, and the other of which provides cell-partition means in a cross-direction, linkage walls forming carton sides connecting the three panels in spaced relation in a exible parallelogram structure capableof being folded flat, the panel immediately above the bottom support being cut to provide a series of attached aps foldable out of the panel to provide parallel partitions above and at right angles to the bottom support, and the top-most panel being cut to provide one or more attached aps foldable out of the panel into intersecting relation with at least one of the iiaps in the series of parallel partitions, eachintersecting ap of the top-most panel being recessed from an edge to receive the intersected flap of the intermediate panel.

14. A cellular egg carton having a tubular cross-section comprising a continuous extent of,

-ing aps foldable down to form spaced cross-partitions, and the topmost interior panel providing at least one flap foldable down to form a longitudinal partition dividing the space between two cross-partitions into two egg-cells.

W. BARTLEI'I JONES. 

